Parachute harness



pr 9- c. c. 'KAJDAN 2,467,037

PARACHUTE HARNESS, PACK, AND LIFE RAFT ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 15, 1945 s Sfieets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Ca ed/2f C. K e/b aa ATTORNEYS. Y

A an-1312,1949. C.C.KAJDAN 2,467,037

PARACHUTE HARNESS, PACK, AND LIFE RAFT ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 15, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Cfeg/ar CM/dan ATTORNEYS.

c. C. KAJDAN April 12, 1949. 2,467,037 PA-RACHUTE HARNESS, PACK, AND LIFE RAFT ASSEMBLY 3 SheetsrSheet 3 Filed Aug. 13; 1945 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlII/II /IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/IIIIII/I/IIII,IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/III [III/[IIIIIIII/III/II/I/I/i I "'Llilifil I III [III/I 1/ 17777 777),

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ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 12, 1949 PARACHUTE HARNESS, PACK, AND LIFE RAFT ASSEIWBLY Chester 0. Kajdan, Bufialo, N. Y., assignor to Irving Air Chute Co. Inc., Buffalo, N. Y., a corporation Application August 13, 1945, Serial No. 610,488

18 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in means for attaching life raft equipment to the parachute harness assembly worn by an aviator.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved means for attaching a compact life raft assembly to parachute equipment. A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved simple, compact arrangement for attaching a life raft to parachute equipment of the type where a back pack, chest pack or other detachable pack is associated with the harness.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved life raft for parachute harnesses having means to facilitate its compact detachable connection therewith.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a parachute harness having the improved life raft assembly associated therewith.

Figure 2 is a side elevation showing the life raft attached to a harness as worn by an aviator.

Figure 3 is a view showing the manner in which the wearer grasps the life raft for release.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the improved life raft assembly.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken transversely through the life raft assembly.

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of an envelope embodied as part of the life raft assembly and wherein the life raft is stowed for efiicient attachment to a harness.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration "is shown only a preferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may generally designate a parachute harness with which a parachute pack B is adapted to be attached. The improved life raft assembly C is adapted for attachment to the harness A.

In the present invention the life raft assembly is adapted for direct attachment to the harness. This type of assembly is associated with parachute harnesses adapted to receive back packs, detachable chest, back or neck packs and the like, since the life raft assembly is not adapted for direct connection with the parachute pack.

While the improved life raft assembly is adapted for association with any type of parachute harness, such as shown in Patents 1,560,366, 1,842,- 611, 1,899,656, 1,958,000, 2,130,564, and 2,130,569, it is particularly well adapted for use with single point release harnesses of the type adapted to receive detachable chest or back packs. To

. that end the harness A may include an adjustable sling seat portion l0 having riser webs H and [2 which cross at the back at l3 and extend at I4 and I5 respectively over the shoulders and down to the front of the wearer where they are provided with fasteners I6 adapted for detachable connection with a single point release coupling ll of the type well known in the art. A leg loop 20 is connected with the seat strap in, adapted to be positioned upwardly between the legs of the wearer and to receive therein leg straps 2| and 22 of well known construction; the straps 2| and 22 having fasteners 23 for releasable connection with the single point release coupling ll.

At the sides of the harness the leg straps 2| and 22 are each connected by a portion 25 of an adjustable back strap 26; the ends of said strap portions 25 being stitched as shown at 27 and 28 to the leg straps and riser straps, as shown in Figure 2. Upon these portions 25 are positioned short straps 30 receiving rings or other coupling parts 3| adapted to be associated with a coupling upon the raft assembly for the purpose of holding the latter in compact relation upon the harness and wearer, yet releasable therewith.

Referring to'the life raft assembly 0, the Same includes a life raft D, and container E wherein the same is received, and an envelope or container F for receiving the life raft and its immediate container.

The life raft D may be of any approved construction and its specific features do not form part of this invention, except insofar as the same is received within the container E. The life raft D may be a kapok arrangement or provided with other buoyant material, or it may be a compact envelope completely folded and provided with means for releasing compressed air or gas therein upon release of the raft from its container. One arrangement is the provision of a carbon dioxide capsule which releases gas to the raft upon its removal from its container either automatically or manually. No attempt has been made in this application to show the specific type of life raft since the main inventive features relate to the means for stowing the life raft in a loompact relation upon'the parachute equipment so that it may be quickly released during an emergency.

The envelope E which receives the life raft is of the nature set forth in a co-pending application Serial Number 610,489, filed August 13, 1945, and consists of a flexible envelope of fabric and of the flat rectangular shape shown in the drawings. It has marginal walls and top and bottom walls, and a rear closure 40 (Figure 6) is secured by snap fasteners 4| along an edge thereof to facilitate release of the life raft from the container after the container is released from its envelope upon the harness.

Referring to the improved envelope or container F for receiving the life raft and its envelope, the same is in reality a half envelope which permits substantial exposure of the fore half of the life raft container, whereby to facilitate removal of the latter. To that end the container F includes a top wall 59, bottom wall 5 I, marginal side walls 52, a rear wall 53, and a side flap 54 contiguous with one side wall 52. The walls 50 to 53 inclusive define a compartment 55 adapted to receive the life raft and its container E, and when in position therein the life raft container E is exposed at its fore part. The flap 54 at its free end is provided with a transversely apertured stud 60. The flap 54 extends around the front margin and across the right half of the front wall of the life raft container E. The bottom wall 5| is tapered in convergent relation at its side margins 62 and 63 and overlies the bottom of the life raft container E' and at its tip end it is provided with a grommet 65 adapted to be slipped over the stud 60. The triangular tip end of this wall portion 5! extends, for thi purpose, over a portion of the front wall of the life raft container when in position, as shown in Figure 1. It will be noted that the top wall 50 terminates marginally at 66 at about the transverse center of the life raft container. A retaining strap arrangement 89 for holding the life raft container in position at its top is provided upon the envelope F, secured at Ill and H at its ends upon the wall 50 of the envelope F and extending therefrom in loop-like arrangement forwardly; same being provided with a fastener 12 having an aperture 13 thereon adapted to be received over the stud 6U complenientary with the grommet 65 for detachable retention of the life raft and it container. The fastener 12 is slidable upon the strap arrangement $9.

It should be noted at this point that the container E for the life raft D is provided upon its front wall with a flexible handle strap 15 secured at its ends at 5. Upon its loose intermediate portion it is externally provided with an auxiliary strap or web H stitched thereto. The latter has a rip cord pin 78 connected by cable 19 therewith. The pin 18 is of the well known cotter type having spring fingers, one of which is adapted to be received within the opening of the stud 60 for retention of the grommet 65 and fastener 12 over the stud.

The life raft and its envelope are stuffed within the container F in a manner which is perfectly obvious. When it is in final position therein the flap 54 is wrapped around the side and a portion of the front wall of the container E and the end of the wall 5! i brought up over the stud 60 and the grommet slipped thereover. The strap 69 is pulled into position and the opening of the fastener i2 slipped over the stud. The rip cord pin ,18 is then placed thru the opening in thestud and this holds the parts of the life raft envelope in position with the life raft and its container asseme bled therein.

harness at spaced points in such manner as not to interfere with attachment of the leg straps or leg loop of the harness upon the sling of the harness. While in itself these loops are sufiicient to retain the raft assembly in position upon the harness, I provide auxiliary or fortifying means so that the load of the raft assembly will be directly carried by the risers of the harness and also for the purpose of holding the raft at its sides closely to the harness and the body of the wearer. To that end a length adjustable doubled strap arrangement shown at is secured by side loops 9| on the side walls of the container or envelope F and by loops 92 upon the bottom of the container F. The adapter at 93 permits the webbing or strap member 90 to be length adjustable. At its ends the strap 90 is provided with snap fasteners or couplings 94 adapted for detachable snap connection with the rings or couplings 3| of the harness above mentioned. Of course the snaps and rings may be interposed and reversed, if so desired, or any other type of fastener suitable for the purpose may be used in lieu thereof.

The compactness with which the assembly is retained upon the body of the wearer is illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. It fits the body substantially the same as a conventional seat pack of a parachute assembly.

At the time of emergency after the parachute has opened and dropped the wearer to a convenient point over water it is merely necessary for the wearer to bend into substantially the pOsition shown in Figure 3 and by grasping the handle '55 it is merely necessary to exert a pull. This will remove the rip pin l8 from the grommet and the wall 5] at its front portion and the flap 54 will fall aside, permitting the wearer to continue to pull and remove the life raft and its container from the envelope F. The wearer is still grasping the handle of the life raft envelope F and it is now merely necessary for him to bring it into position to open the snaps 4i and release the life raft from its envelope.

It is within the contemplation of this invention to directly provide a life raft which fits into the envelope or container F without the necessity of any intermediate life raft storing envelope or compartment.

I do not necessarily confine myself to attachment of the life raft receiving container F upon the seat strap of the harness, since it is adaptable for attachment to other body straps of the harness, or it may be directly associated with a parachute pack, such by way of example, as shown in my co-pending application Serial Number 610,489, filed August 13, 1945.

Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a life raft assembly adapted for 00111180? tion with a wearers body harness the combina-. tion of a container including spaced body walls, one end wall, side marginal walls, and means chute equipment the combination of a container having releasably associated fastener parts therefor, a life raft unit for releasable reception within said container including a handle exposed when in the container for grasping by a wearer, and releasing means connected to the handle holding said fastener parts together constructed and arranged so that a pull upon said handle will then remove the life raft unit from said container.

3. In a life raft assemblage the combination of a flexible container, a flexible life raft unit for the container, closure and fastener parts associated with the container for holding the life raft unit within the container, and handle means connected with the life raft unit including rip means for said fastener parts and connected to said handle means for releasing the life raft unit from said container.

4. In a life raft assemblage the combination of a flexible container, a flexible life raft unit for the container, closure and fastener parts associated with the container for holding the life raft unit within the container, and handle means connected with the life raft unit including rip means for said fastener parts and connected with the handle means for releasing the life raft unit from said container, and means for detachably connecting said container with a parachute harness.

5. In an envelope structure for receiving life raft units the combination of flexible upper and lower walls, side marginal and rear walls defining a pocket for receiving a life raft unit, a side flexible flap connected with one of the side walls having a fastener part at the end thereof, strap means connected with the top wall extending forwardly therefrom having a fastener part in complementary association with the fastener of said flap, and means connected with the bottom wall having a fastener part for complementary association with the other fastener.

6. In combination with a parachute harness including a seat sling, a flexible container, means connected with the flexible container for releasable connection with the seat sling, coupling means at the sides of the container for releasable connection with other parts of the harness, said container having releasable means associated therewith, a life raft unit for the container, and means connected with the life raft unit including a handle and releasing means for complementary association with the releasing means of the container constructed and arranged to release the container and permit removal of the life raft unit from the container upon exertion of a pull upon said handle.

'7. In combination with a parachute harness having a U-shaped body supporting seat sling portion, a life raft unit including a life raft per se and a container in which the life raft per se is housed, an envelope having means connected therewith for detachable connection with the seat sling portion of the harness, said envelope being of a nature to releasably receive the life raft and its container therein, and manually operable fastener means for said envelope.

8. In combination with a parachute harness including a lower body attaching portion, a life raft unit, and holding means for containing the life raft unit and holding it upon the lower body harness including releasing means at a margin of said means normally facing between the legs of the wearer when the harness is upon a wearers body whereby the wearer may reach between the legs to operate said releasing means and detach the life raft unit from its holding means.

9. A life raft assembly for attachment to parachute harnesses and the like comprising main body walls, marginal walls connecting the main body walls to define an envelope with an opening to the compartment between the main body walls at one margin of the envelope, a life raft unit in said envelope, means at the opening to the envelope for releasably holding the life raft unit within the envelope, and parachute harness coupling means at two opposite margins of the envelope.

10. In a life raft unit for attachment to parachute harnesses and the like the combination of a pair of main body walls, marginal walls connecting the main body walls to define an envelope with an opening to the compartment between the main body walls at one margin of the envelope, a life raft unit in said envelope, means at the opening to the envelope for releasably holding the life raft unit within the envelope, parachute harness coupling means at two oppo site margins of the envelope, and other means on one of the main body walls for coupling the envelope with a parachute harness.

11. In a life raft assembly for use with parachute equipment, the combination of a life raft unit having a handle, containing means for releasably securing the life raft unit, and complementary fastener parts upon said handle and containing means constructed and arranged so that a pull upon the handle will release said fastener parts and enable quick removal of the life raft unit from the containing means.

12. In a life raft assemblage the combination of a parachute harness including riser webs and a seat sling portion, a collapsed life raft unit, a strap secured beneath the life raft unit having coupling means at its ends, and coupling means on the harness complementary to the coupling means of the strap for connecting the life raft unit beneath the sling seat in such manner that the weight of the life raft unit will be transmitted to the riser webs of the harness.

13. In a life raft assemblage the combination of a parachute harness including riser webs and a seat sling portion, a collapsed life raft unit, a strap secured beneath the life raft unit having coupling means at its ends, coupling means on the harness complementary to the coupling means of the strap for connecting the life raft unit beneath the sling seat in such manner that the weight of the life raft unit will be transmitted to the riser webs of the harness, and means to release the life raft from the unit including a rip means disposed in facing relation between the legs of the wearer.

14. In life raft equipment the combination of a body attaching harness, a life raft unit including a life raft and releasing means having a handle portion, and means for attaching the life raft unit to the harness so that the releasing means handle is disposed adjacent to the rear of the wearer in facing relation between the wearers legs when the harness and life raft unit are applied upon the wearer.

15. In combination parachute and life raft equipment the combination of a body attaching ammt harness including lower body attaching straps and upper body attaching straps, a life raft unit including a :life raft, holding means and rip means for releasing the holding means, and means for attaching the containing means and'the life raft to the lower body straps of the harness so that the rip means is normally disposed below any portion of the body harness when the latter is upon a wearer.

16. In combination parachute and life raft equipment the combination of a body attaching harness including lower body attaching straps and upper body attaching straps, a life raft unit includinga life raft, holding means and rip means for releasing the holding means, and means for attaching the containing means and the life raft to the 'lower :body straps .of the harness so that the trip means is normally disposed below any portion of the body harness when the latter upon a wearer, said harness being of the single point release type.

17. In combination parachute and life raft equipment the combination .of a body attaching harness including lower body attaching straps and upper body attaching straps, ,a life raft unit includingalife raft, sholdingmeans and rip means for releasing theholding means, means for attaching the containing means and the life raft to the lower body straps of the harness so that the rip means is normally disposed below any portion of the body harness when the latter is upon a wearer, said harness being of the single point release type, and a parachute pack carried by said harness in non-interferring relation with the life raft unit.

1 8. In parachute equipment the combination of a single point release harness including a single release coupling, upper body straps and tower body straps including a sling seat, a detachable quick connector pack having complementary connection with the upper body straps, a life raft unit including containing means connected wit'h'th-e lower body straps, a life raft for the containing means, and fastening means for the containing means including a rip handle =dis- :posed immediately adjacent to said containing means and remote from said parachute pack.

CHESTER C. KAJDAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,795,168 Habernehl Mar. 3, 1931 2,114,301 Harrigan Apr. 19, 1938 2,164,130 Waite June 27, 1939 

